Apparatus for launching flying-machines.



J. MEANS.

APPARATUS FOR LAUNGHING PLYIN G MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1908.

Patented May 25, 1909.-

| 1 I r I I #4! a Y 'luh .AT HEEVEEE W 1 w rnvrr-E o srawrnr m JAMES MEANS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Arraim'rus iron LAUNCHING FLYING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 20, 1908. Serial No. 449,433.

Patented May'25, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MEANS, a

' citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in .the county of Suffolk and I a certain high initial velocity in the direction opposite to that of the wind is desirable for soaring and said velocity which varies according to conditions is best imparted to such machine by means extraneous thereto in order that the be a minimum. v

The object of my invention is. to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for launching flying machines whereby any desired weight of the machine may initial velocity may be imparted to such machines in a direction toward any point of the compass. I

With this object in view my invention consists in a table, preferably rotatable and having meanssuch as a vane for automatically maintaining said table in the desired position, and provided with mechanism whereby the desired velocity may be imparted either directly to the flying machine or to a truck or other device carrying the same.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of my invention, Fig. 2 is a central section of the same and Fig. 3 is an end view.

In the figures A represents a turntable of suitable dimensions supported by the colurnns H on the base I which in turn is supported preferably by ball-bearings or other friction reducing devices on the standard J.

The axle K which is rigidly secured to or integral with the base I is inclosed within the journal L, so that said base with its super-imposed table may with a minimum effort be rotated about the center of said The "table A is provided with carrying the wheels D of. the device C. The table is provided with a centrally arranged slot Odisposed above the cable F which passes around the pulleys E and which may be driven at a high velocity by any suitable mechanism supported ,by the base 1 siich as the motor Q. In order to impart the motion of said cable to the device C any suitable gripping means such as the grip G actuated by the lever G may be employed. Preferably said grip is maintained open by the spring M secured to the lever G and to the device C. In order to maintain the tracks B parallelto the direction of the wind so that the motion imparted to the device C may be in a direction opposite to the direction of the wind, a vertical vane N may be secured to the table A, or the same result may be accomplished by a small subsidiary windmill of the well known type which is used for keeping windmills in e wind.

The device C may be a truck upon which the flying machine to be launched is maintained, or it may be the flying machine itself,

and in either case the operator launches the machine by actuating the grip so that the same exerts a greater or less pressure on the cable thereby propelling the truck or flying machine C forward againstthe wind at a desired velocity. This velocity will be secured before the clutch reaches the forward pulley E whereupon the operator releases his hold of the lever G and the spring M or other suitable device will open the grip so that the latter will clear said pulley and the flying machine enter upon free flight.

It will be understood hat many modifications may be made in the apparatus shown in the drawings and hereinbefore .described without departing from the spirit of my invention.

' I claim: I g

1. In an apparatus for launching flying machines, the combination, with a table, of a motor-actuated endless-cable and means associated therewith for imparting forward motion to the machine to be launched.

2. In an apparatus for launching flying machines, the combination, with a revoluble table, of a motor-actuated endless-cable and means associated therewith for imparting forward motion to the machine to be launched.

3. In an apparatus for launching flying machines, the combination, with a revoluble table, of a motor-actuated endless-cable, means associated therewith for imparting forward motion to the machine'to be launched and means for maintaining said table in any desired position. F

4. In an apparatus for launching flying machines, the combination, with a revoluble table, of a motor-actuated endless-cable, means associated therewith for imparting forward motion to the machine to be launched and wind-actuated means for maintaining said table in a position dependent upon the direction of the wind. a .5. In an apparatus for launching flyin machines, the combination, with a revoluble table, of a motor-actuated endless-cable, means associated therewith for imparting forward motion to the machine to be launched and a vertically disposed vane for maintainextraneous to said machine for imparting forward motion thereto.

a8. In 'anapparatus for launching-flying 'machines, the combination, with arevoluble table constructed and arranged to support the machine to be launched, of mechanism extraneous to said machine for imparting forward motion thereto and means for controlling the elocity thereof. 1

9. In an apparatus for launching flying machines, the combination, with a revoluble' 1 table, and guideways on the same, of means for propelling the machine to be launched along said guideways and wind-actuated Y means for maintaining said table in such 0- sition that said guideways will be paralle to the direction of the wind.

10. In an apparatus for launching flying machines, the combination, with a revoluble table, and guideways on the same, of means for propelling the machine to be launched along said guideways and'a vertically disposed vane for maintaining said table in such position that said guideways are parallel to.

the direction of the wind. u

11. In an apparatus for launching flying machines, the combination, with atable, of a motor-actuated endless-cable, a grip coo erating with said cable and means contro led by the operator in the machine to be launched for closing said grip upon said cable.

12. In an apparatus for launching flying machines, the combination, with a table, of a motor-actuated endless-cable, a grip cooperating with said cable, means controlled by the operator in the machine to be launched for closing said grip on said cable and means for automatically releasing said grlp. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of August,

Witnesses:

GEO. K. WooDWoRTH, G. A. HIGGINS.

JAMES MEANS. 

